Clothing & Packing for a month in Italy

I would suggest you follow Rick Steve's packing list--making minor changes for your personal situation.

Our family rules are that everyone can take anything they want--as long as it fits into on 21" rolling bag and in an oversize handbag or small backpack. And everyone carries their own bags.

I always get my jeans and khaki pants heavily starched. As long as you don't get'em soiled, you can wear starched clothes day after day. I usually carry no more than 2 pairs of shoes.

Remember, they'll never see you again.

Hi Nancy, For a trip in October a few years ago, I took 2 pair of nice (trouser) jeans (wore one on the plane) and one pair of washable dress slacks in black. I took two shoes, black leather maryjanes and regular "walking shoes," 5 tops, a cardigan to layer, a rain-resistant jacket with hood and a small umbrella. Keep to a simple color pallet: denim, black and hot pink, for example. As the other responder said, no one is going to see you again. You will be sick of your clothes when you get home, but who cares? Take a couple of scarves to add color, or buy them on your trip. November is not really cold, IMO, so don't over-prepare "just in case." You can always buy another sweater if you need one.

Limit your toiletries (3-1-1 bag) and buy stuff here. Italians need deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, too. Leave the hairdryer at home as every B&B and hotel has one for you.

I agree with Laurel, pack light with layers. I take a week's worth of outfits and do laundry when I have to.

I have to line up with James on this one, except that I am able to pack everything in a 20" roller, which I check, a rolling tote, and a small backpack (my personal item). I like to be clean and look nice. I have said, more than once, on this forum that the idea of buying in Europe what you can bring from home doesn't make sense to me. Retail services, like pharmacies, operate very differently from in the U.S. Clothing sizes are not the same, and hours are much more restricted. In the past I have needed to spend precious travel time searching for pseudophed, ibuprofen, otc reading glasses (for my husband, more than once ). It's really not much fun, and prices are much higher than here. For anything much over a week, my packing is the same, because we do laundry or have it done: under- and sleepwear for a week, three pairs of shoes (one on me), at least five bottoms, at least seven tops, a couple of fine gauge cardigans, a small umbrella and water-resistant jacket, bathing suit, scarves, inexpensive earrings, electronic gear, books, guides, maps, knitting, toiletries, extra pair of prescription glasses and a good assortment of remedies for just-in-case, like bandaids and the aforementioned otc remedies. We even have room for an assortment of items we acquire along the way.
And just to head off any snarky cracks about people who don't pack light not carrying their own bags - - -we do manage our own luggage. We, however, don't turn down help, if some is offered.

It's not the $25 or more, or a porter (where do you find one, let alone for $3), it's the lugging luggage when there is no porter, and having more stuff to remember. I use a 21" or 22" rolling carryon plus a Civita daypack for 3 months. I send out laundry every few of weeks and in the meantime do sinkwashes, using laundry detergent, not toothpaste. A 2.5 gallon ziploc bag is my temporary washer, gives laundry time to soak and to agitate, with a little hand-kneading. It's cleansing and sanitary. And clothes look and smell fresh.
Not overpacking saves me time and angst. I do buy toiletries in Europe because my trips are long, but if I were going for 2-4 weeks, I would pack several travel-size items rather than full-size tubes or bottles.

I usually send home a box during my trip (I buy books and gifts). Expensive but worth not carrying stuff around that I won't use.

If I needed lots of event or activity gear, I would bite the bullet and check a larger bag. Packing light makes it very easy to use public transportation; if I rented a car, it wouldn't matter to me as much.

I recently traveled for three weeks with a friend who packed up her apartment for the trip - 45- lb. suitcase that, when empty, could be a camper. It was hell on wheels.

As Zoe said, it is not the cost in $$ that keeps me in a 21" rollaboard, it is the cost in time and the risk in checking. I have had luggage delayed in the U.S. enough times that I am unwilling to put up with it any longer. Also, it is easier to move about withe less stuff. Heaving a 50 pound suitcase onto a train is not fun. Even worse is hauling it up and down stairs in a train station. When boarding a train, I have been stuck behind people who cannot lift their own case onto the train and it holds up everyone. I have stumbled over giant 26"-28" pullmans left in the aisles on trains by people who could not find a place to store them. Rinsing a few things out in the sink is easy. I am always clean. And a landomat day once a week is not bad. Better yet, most apartments we rent in europe have a washing machine. Packing light is, to us, freedom.

If you are spending a week in Rome, a week in Paris and 2 weeks on the Amalfi Coast, it seems like you will be stationary enough to do laundry or have it done for you at least 4 times during this trip. If you are renting apartments and they have washers, it will be very easy. We've also done laundry ourselves at a laundromat in Paris and had it done for us at one in Rome. We haven't stayed on the Amalfi Coast, but the people who live there need to do their laundry, so I would expect that there would be someplace you could do it or have it done. Unlike most folks, we find using the local laundry facilities fun, efficient and interesting.

If you plan on washing your clothes once a week, then you can pack like we do -- for a week and a day -- and have plenty of room for all you need in a 22x14x9 bag and tote/messenger bag both of which can be carried on the plane from the US to Europe. If you are flying within Europe you will likely need to check the bigger bag.

By staying put for a decent amount of time, you will also be able purchase the "liquids" you need in quantities larger than you can have in your carry-ons. They can go in the checked bag if you fly within Europe. We always carry-on, so if we have anything leftover, we just toss it at the last lodging. That's sad sometimes because we often like the products we buy in Europe better than what we can get in the US, even if it's the same brand.

As Emma in London has said, "the answer to any clothing question is layers." Check the weather averages early and the predictions close to packing time to make more educated packing choices. Wear your heaviest stuff on the plane even if you get stares when you are in your US departure airport. Believe me, we got them in 90+ temps in Tucson when we had our coats with us for a trip to the Netherlands in April 2013.

Everyone's formula is different, but I usually have 3 bottoms and 8 tops. On that trip to the Netherlands last year, I found that I wore fewer tops over and over. So for my next trip I have 6 tops and 2 tanks that will be worn with the button up blouses open or partially buttoned. I'm taking a raincoat that folds into a small pouch, a zip-up cardigan and a vest. Those are obviously for weather. (Almost) everything goes with everything else, so it's very easy to get dressed. Scarves and a little jewelry dress things up if needed. Think back on the things you did not use on your last trip and reflect on why, even if it was a different season.

Go to the Vivienne Files for good visual examples of general wardrobe coordination and packing. Go to Weatherbase for weather averages and predictions. Instead of seeing it as a loathsome chore, I have fun meeting the challenge of packing for my trips. We have to pack light now because we fly standby from the States to Europe and can't check anything, but we did it long before we had that option.

Hi everyone,
Thank you so very much for your insightful comments!!! You gave me the best advice!!!
I will let you know when we return what worked for us!!
:-) Nancy